Back in May when I posted my recipe for homemade laundry detergent I never could have anticipated the excitement it would generate among my readers and their friends. I have gotten so much positive feedback about it – thank you!
One of the best parts of homemade mothering is the ability to try new things in order to find what works best for you and your family. I am always testing new methods for all my recipes and ideas. So, like everything else in my life my laundry detergent recipe is a work in progress. While I still love my original homemade laundry detergent recipe, I’ve found that my new version works a little better. Stains come up easier.
My initial recipe for homemade laundry detergent called for one bar of Ivory soap. The newest version calls for 1/4 bar Fels Naptha soap and 1/2 bar Ivory soap. The Fels Naptha seems to pull out stains better than Ivory on its own. But, it has a bit of harshness to it that I think is softened with the Ivory. Fels Naptha soap can be found in some grocery stores in their laundry aisle, but I bought some on Amazon.com
My Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe – Version 2.0
1/4 bar Fels Naptha soap
1/2 bar Ivory soap
2/3 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
A 2 gallon bucket with a lid – I found a good one in the painting department at Home Depot
Very finely chop the soap and put it into a large pan over medium-high heat. Add 6 cups of water and, stirring often, heat until the soap melts. Stir in washing soda and borax. Pour 4 cups of hot water into the bucket. Carefully add the hot soap mixture and stir. Fill the bucket with water (about 22 cups more). Let the soap sit overnight to allow it to gel. Stir well. Keep in mind that the consistency of this detergent is different from what you buy at the store – it is a liquidy gel.
Use 1/2-3/4 cup per load (I use the top of an old detergent bottle!). Remember that this is a low-sudsing formula, so don’t expect to see a lot of bubbles.
Wondering why you should make your own? Here are a few good reasons:
1. Save Money: The cost of making the above recipe is about $2.00. With this 2 gallon size recipe you will have enough to do about 55 loads of laundry. That translates to about 3.5 cents per load.
2. Better for the Environment: Where do I start?! A homemade detergent uses far fewer scary chemicals. Store bought detergent comes in thick plastic bottles which never biodegrade. Transporting store bought from the factory to the store to your home uses a lot of fuel. Store bought detergent can have dangerous fragrances.
3. It works: I’ve been using this for years, and our clothes are clean!
4. Its fun: Admit it—its kinda cool to know how to make something like this. And in times like this its nice to do something to save a little money and be kinder to the environment.
5. Its easy: total active time for me was about 8 minutes!
Homemade Mothering is a movement that aims to simplify life and foster self-reliance while being kinder to our families and the planet. Its about encouraging people to get back to the basics when it comes to mothering and homekeeping. 
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Maureen, you rock. You just … do.
=D
Happy New Year!!!
Hi Maureen! I'm a lurker. 🙂 I'm very interested in homemade mothering also…I've been using my own powdered laundry detergent for about a year and a half, and love it. I started out with fels naptha, until I read some things online about it that made me concerned about its safety. I switched to Dr. Bronners bar soap (lavender, bc of its antibac properties) and it works as well (if not better than) the fels naptha, and I don't worry about the stinky fumes either. Just a thought. I love your posts here!
I love the idea of using Dr Bronner's soap! I will try that with my next batch of detergent! Thanks for the tip, DailyThread!
I used to make laundry detergent, but ever since I switched to Soapnuts my life has been a lot better. Love them way more! In a condo with a baby, we couldn't deal with a bucket of detergent laying around, either. Instead we did a dry version of the homemade. Much simpler than this.
Thanks for the feedback, Crunchymama! I tried making my own dry version of homemade laundry detergent, but it didn't seem as "potent" and the dust from it made me cough and bothered my eyes.
Hey, Crunchymama…..I make the gel detergent in a blue Rubbermaid Tub…top fits tightly, you can stack it on a shelf…very easy.
maureen…i'm about to try this today or tomorrow! we've finally run out of our store-bought.
Erin @Blueprints of a Southern Belle
Have you noticed your clothes fading more quickly? I used to make my own laundry detergent, but the ingredients are so harsh, it was wearing my clothes out way earlier than normal.
I can't wait to try this.
Jessica, I noticed that when I used only Fels Naptha the clothes tended to fade quicker. But, the mix of Ivory and Fels seems a bit gentler.
I am allergic to Ivory soap, any suggestions? I wanted to try it with Dr. Bronners but not sure how much to use. Have you tried making it with Dr. Bronners yet, if so how did it turn out?
I make mine with the Dr. Bronner’s and it works great!
I have a sideloading HE washer and wondered if this gel would work with it. You stated that it's low-sudsing, but I'm a little hesitant to try it for fear of messing up an expensive appliance! 🙂 LOVE your blog! Darlene (Jose's wife)
Darcy, you can use just about any soap in place of Ivory. You don't even need to use Fels-Naptha, but I have found that using at least a little bit helps get out stains.
Darlene, I also have a side loading washing machine and this detergent doesn't seem to bother it.
Any ideas for adding essential oils? I have some spearmint and eucalyptus oil sitting around and would like to add it in, but I’m not sure how much I should use. I may also try that with the handsoap…any input would be appreciated!
I love this idea!! (and your blog- I just discovered it last week)
My only concern is the Borax- I’ve heard that although it is a natural ingredient its very poisonous? (I read it on another blog- not sure if its true) Do you need the borax to get the clothes clean?
Welcome to Homemade Mothering, Tara! So happy you have joined us.
I have heard rumblings lately about Borax, but nothing that has convinced me to give it up (yet). It is a relatively small amount used considering how many loads this recipe makes. If you’re worried about it, try experimenting without it or with less of it. For me, part of the fun of being a homemade mother is trying new ways of doing old things 🙂
I would love to try this but was just wondering if this detergent is he machine friendly? Thanks!
I have a front-loader and it works fine for us. It is a very low sudsing formula, so you don’t have to worry about bubbles overflowing!
I have used this “recipe” for about a year now and love it. We are expecting our first baby in a few weeks so I’m starting the pre-wash prep… and of course will have all of the laundry after baby gets here. 🙂 Everyone suggests a gentle detergent for babies… did you use this with your babies clothes? I’m hoping so!
So happy you like the detergent recipe!
For baby clothes, I usually washed in Charlie’s Soap (its the same soap I use to clean cloth diapers – very effective but very gentle). Once the little one is a few months old I switch to the homemade detergent. I’m sure it would be fine for baby right from the start, but I want everything that touches my new baby’s skin to be extra, extra, extra gentle.
BTW are you going to choose cloth diapers? Please at least consider it – its been a great choice for us. https://homemademothering.com/2009/09/the-cloth-diapering-manifesto.html
Thanks for the info! I do plan on cloth diapering and very excited about it 🙂 I guess I need to check out this Charlie’s Soap tho now… 🙂
Would it work just as well to use another bar of soap, such as Dove?
I’m not sure – I’ve never used anything other than Fels Naptha and Ivory. Give it a shot – what’s the worst that could happen??
I made the laundry soap with fels naptha soap borax and washing soda its been 3days now and it was gel well most of it ,seemed like it was melting though i tried mixing it again still didn’t fully gel so i looked online and it said add more borax if it doesn’t gel by tomorrow what should i do?
When I make the laundry soap it never “gels” completely – it is kinda like a gel soup. I stir it up very well and there are chunks that float a bit.
Just made my second batch-the first lasted from July to almost October! I use an old cat litter bucket with a lid. Great way to reuse!
Great way to reuse that bucket!! So happy to hear the detergent worked out for you 🙂
I have been using this recipe for over 10 months now and I will NEVER buy commercial detergent again. I have tried others but this one, with the ivory soap (which if you watch coupons you can actually get for free from Walmart) is the most cost effective and the best smelling! I even use it on my cloth diapers. A make a double batch for us (I do about a load a day with 3 kids and cloth diapers) and I lasts me 3 months +! Thank you for sharing!!!
I had a recipe for this that uses 2 bars of ivory 1 c borax & 1 c washing soda. I used 6 cups water boiled it then added bars of soap over heat stirred until dissolved.
I had the borax & washing soda in a bucket.
then I poured the soap mixture into the bucket with the borax and washing soda & 12 more cups of hot boiling water.
this was 2 days ago. I have stirred it both days and it seems to be a whipped yogurt (thick) consistency gets more liquidy when stirred.
will this ever stay at liquid form? Im worried I have a ruined batch for some reason because it doesn’t look like any of the pics.
do you have any suggestions.. help me please..?
2 bars of Ivory seems like a lot – perhaps that is the problem? Try using just one bar and diluting with more water. I use two full gallons of water in my recipe.
I just made my first batch with my own twist. I used 1/3 bar of zote pink soap, 1/2 cup borax, and instead of washing soda I used 1 cup of Final Touch Fresh Expression “Alive” laundry booster which is mainly the same thing but with scent. It smells just like Apple Mano Tango. I didn’t use as much water, and it still didn’t gel up, so I put small batches in my food processor and it turned foamy and milky. I put it in yard sale insulated camping beverage cooler with the spout. It is still awesome.
Apple Mango Tango sorry. Also you do not have to grate Zote. You can cut into 5 equal pieces, put on a microwave safe plate, and watch as you microwave it. Take it out when the slices puff up and look kinda white. Let cool for 30 minutes or so, and then crumble with your hands.
Hi Maureen-Do you put the soap in the detergent dispenser or just toss it in with the laundry? I assume the dispenser but just wanted to double check. Also, any suggestions for a natural fabric softener? Have you tried wool dryer balls? Thanks!
Kelly